Tubular lantern



E. C. EVERETT.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, I919.

1,338,91 1 Patented May 4, 1920.

A 7'70/F/VEY5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST C. EVERETT, 013 NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO B. E. DIETZ COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,661.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. EVERETT, a citizen of the United States, residin at New York city, in the county of New ork and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tubular Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tubular lanterns and more particularly to improvements in tubular lanterns of that type which are provided with globe lifting mechanisms comprising a lever or shaft journaled on the lantern frame and connected with a movable globe support or plate, the lever or shaft being provided with an arm or part which engages a catch or guide plate on the lantern frame for retaining the globe support and the globe in the raised position The object of the invention is to provlde lanterns of this sort with a bearing, catch or guide for the globe lifting shaft or lever which is constructed and arranged in a novel manner so as not only to make the bearing, catch or guide stronger and more durable, but also to act as a brace or stiffener for the lantern frame.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1. is a rear elevation of the lower portion of a tubular lantern embodying the invention, the parts being shown in their normal position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary similar view showing the globe raised.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 33, Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 4- 1, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of the lantern frame and the bearing and catch plate.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view, detached, of the bearing and catch or guide plate.

A represents the base portion of the lantern containing, as usual, the oil pot 10, air chamber 11 and burner 12; B the side air tubes which communicate at their lower ends with the air chamber and are secured to and extend upwardly from the base portion of the lantern. These tubes are connected at their upper ends to the air chamber or tube in the head of the lantern, and together with the base and head form the rigid lantern frame.

D represents the globe, and E the globe plate or support on which the globe rests at its lower end. The globe plate or support E is movable up and down away from and toward the burner for raising and lowering the globe, and is raised and low ered by a lifter shaft or lever F journaled on the lantern frame and connected to the globeplate or support.

The lifter shaft F shown consists of a transverse cranked or bent wire journaled at its ends on the lower portion of the lantern frame and having an offset middle portion which is suitably hinged at 13 to the globe plate at one side of the lantern. One end of this lifter shaft is journaled in a suitable bearing 14 on the air tube at one side of the lantern, and is provided with a bent extremity engaging the outer end of the bearing to limit the inward endwise movement of the shaft.

The lantern, as thus far described, is of known construction.

G represents the catch, guide or bearing plate for the opposite. or handle end of the lifter shaft or lever. This plate is arranged vertically and is securely attached to the air tube at one side of the lantern and projects inwardly from the tube, or toward the center of the lantern. At its upper end, the plate is preferably provided with an extension 15 which projects through a hole in the inner side of the air tube and is bent so as to fit against the curved interior sur-.

face of the tube. This insures a strong rigid connection of the bearing or catch plate with the air tube. A bearing and catch plate for the lifter shaft, somewhat similarly located, is known, and this invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement and attachment of the device, which are now to be described and are set forth in the claims.

Preferably the plate is shaped to fit against the inner side of the air tube and in the corner or elbow 16 at the lower end of the tube, and is soldered to both the upright and horizontal portions of the tube. The bearing or catch plate G is provided at its inner portion with a flange or brace 17 which projects substantially at right angles from the body portion of the plate, and this flange or brace extends down in rear of the horizontal lower portion of the air tube and is rigidly secured at its lower end to able distance rearwardly from the vertical plane of the body portion of the plate and thus forms a substantial brace for the bearing or catch plate and for the air tube towhich the plate is secured. The lifter shaft extends through and is j ournaled in a bearing hole 19 in the flange or brace 17, and the operating arm of the shaft projects forwardly through a guide slot or opening 20 in the catch plate, which is formed at the inner side of this slot with a catch portion 21 having an inclined outwardly facing edge and an abrupt shoulder at its lower end. The operating arm of the lifter shaft is pressed yieldingly against this catch by the elasticity of the shaft. When the lever is operated to raise the globe, the operating arm moves downwardly over the inclined edge of the catch and springs under the lower end of the catch to hold the globe in the raised position.

The lifter shaft is made of relatively stiff wire and considerable strain is thrown on the bearing or catch plate in operating the lifter. W'hen moving the lever the pressure tends to bend or deflect the plate and to loosen or break the connection of the plate with the air tube. The brace 17 anchored to the base of the lantern greatly stifi'ens the bearing or catch plate and effectually prevents the deflection of the plate due to the operation of the lifter and thus insures a very strong and durable construction. Furthermore, the bearing or catch plate constructed and. rigidly secured to the air tube as described, and having the brace attached at its lower end to the base of the lantern at a considerable distance in rear of the plane of the body portion of the plate, effectually braces and stiffens the lantern frame, preventing the air tube from being bent or deflected relatively to the base out of its intended upright position. This materially strengthens a recognized weakness in the lantern frame. This brace feature is particularly advantageous in preventing the frames of lanterns from being sprung out of shape when they are packed.

I claim as my invention 1. In a tubular lantern, the combination of the lantern frame comprising a base and an air tube secured thereto and having an upstanding portion, a lever for lifting the lantern globe, a catch plate attached to the upstanding portion of the air tube forreleasably holding the lever from movement, and a brace connected to said catch plate and anchored to the lantern base thereby forming a brace for both the catch plate and the lantern frame.

2. In a tubular lantern, the combination of the lantern frame comprising a base and an air tube secured thereto, a lever for lifting the lantern globe, a catch plate-attached to the air, tube and extending inwardly therefrom for releasably holdingthe lever from movement, and a brace extending from the inner portion of said catch plate and anchored to the lantern base for bracing the catch plate and lantern frame.

8. In a tubular lantern, the combination of the lantern frame comprising a base and an air tube secured thereto and having an upstanding portion, a lever for lifting the lantern globe, and a catch plate attached to the upstanding portion of the air tube and having a flange projecting at an angle therefrom, said flange extending downwardly to and anchored to the lantern base thereby forming a brace for both the catch plate and the lantern frame.

1. In a tubular lantern, the combination of the lantern frame comprising a base and an air tube having an upright portion and a lateral portion secured to said base, a lever for lifting the lantern globe, and a catch plate for releasably holding the lever from movement, said catch plate having a portion attached to the upright and lateral portions of the air tube and a portion which extends to and is anchored to the lantern base and forms a brace for the catch plate and lantern frame.

5. In a tubular lantern, the combination of the lantern frame comprising a base and an air tube secured thereto, a lever for lift; ing the lantern globe, and a bent catch plate having a portion attached to and extending inwardly from the air tube and forming a catch for the lifting lever, and a flange forming a bearing for the lifting lever, said flange extending to and anchored to the lantern base and forming a brace for the catch plate and lantern frame.

Witness my hand this 30th day of April, 

